Helping Others is Truly a Way of Life for SDIA!
Happy New Year, Sheep Dog Nation!Over the past few months, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) has been extremely busy with outdoor adventures, Warrior PATHH courses, staffing changes, disaster response missions, our Celebration & Turkey Trot for Heroes 5K, the holidays, and so much more. We are most excited about breaking ground on our dedicated Warrior PATHH Training Facility at Heroes Ranch at Rush Springs!We have much to share...read on for the latest, and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
As you are probably aware, last year SDIA purchased 50 acres of property just over the Arkansas border in Pineville, Missouri. This property - named Heroes Ranch at Rush Springs - was immediately put to use for our Outdoor Adventures as well as the Warrior PATHH training program.Heroes Ranch at Rush Springs has two existing Lodges (LCpl Anthony Darbonne Lodge & Senior Chief Joseph Paul Engleman Lodge) and Heroes Ranch Stables. The Darbonne Lodge is mainly used by Outdoor...
JOIN US for our Heroes Ranch Open House!
The holiday season is here and we would love for you to join us on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, from 4:30-7:00PM for our Heroes Ranch at Rush Springs Open House, Chili Cook Off and NWA Chapter Meeting. It's been way too long since we've gotten together, and we hope you can squeeze us in your busy schedule to see Heroes Ranch and learn how we are continuing to improve the lives of our nation's Sheep Dogs with this beautiful property.
Everyone is encouraged to attend, and if you've got a great chili recipe to enter into the Chili Cook Off - bring it! We'll provide the fixings (shredded cheese, sour cream, bread, etc.) and beverages (soda, tea, water).
WHO: ALL Members, Volunteers, Supporters, and anyone interested in SDIAWHEN: Tuesday, December 14, 4:30-7:00PMWHERE: Heroes Ranch at Rush Springs, 335 Eternity Lane, Pineville MOWHY: For camaraderie & socializing as you see Heroes Ranch!
RSVP by December 12 so we can plan appropriately for fixings and...
SDIA’s Outdoor Celebration is October 9!
Our Outdoor Celebration is two weeks away, and SDIA's CEO & Founder, SgtMaj Lance Nutt, and Guest of Honor Sgt Noah Galloway have a special invitation for you!
https://youtu.be/GLu-mdEwgHQ
Saturday, October 9, 2021
Village on the Creeks, Rogers AR
4:30PM Doors Open6:30PM Program Begins9:00-10:00PM VIP Reception
Join us for a night of celebrating 11 years of Sheep Dog Impact Assistance and our nation's heroes!
Over the past 11 years, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) has grown into a national 501c3 nonprofit. With your help, SDIA has been able to engage, assist and empower thousands of Sheep Dogs in need by helping them #GetOffTheCouch by participating in our three programs:
Outdoor Adventures to engage them with camaraderie and healing;Warrior PATHH training to assist them in learning to transform their struggle into strength; andContinued Service where Sheep Dogs are empowered to discover the power of "Helping is Healing" as they serve others through Disaster Response Missions and community service.
Thank you for making the...
And They’re Off to Climb Kili!
The Sam's Furniture Kilimanjaro Climb for a Cause is FINALLY HERE!
After months of preparation and training, the Climbing Team has arrived in Tanzania!The "Kili Climb for a Cause" Climbing Team, sponsored by Sam’s Furniture in Springdale, Arkansas, includes owners, Joe & Larra Donaldson, a video production team, and ten Veterans - four of which are Purple Heart recipients (single- and double-limb amputees).Be sure to watch our Facebook & Instagram pages (@SheepDogIA) as well as our website for updates on their progress.And once they hit the trail, click this link to see where they are at LIVE!
Our Kili Climbers on the bus in Tanzania.
Meet Our Purple Heart Recipient Climbers
While on his second tour during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005, Sgt Galloway lost his left arm above the elbow, his left leg above...
SDIA Partners with BCF to Launch Warrior PATHH Training in NWA
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance is honored to partner with Boulder Crest Foundation to deliver their life-changing Warrior PATHH Training for Combat Veterans and First Responders to Northwest Arkansas beginning in March 2021.
Warrior PATHH (Progressive and Alternative Training for Healing Heroes) is the nation's first non-clinical program designed to cultivate and facilitate Posttraumatic Growth (PTG). The program focuses on Combat Veterans and First Responders struggling with PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and other challenges associated with trauma, and teaches them how to transform times of deep struggle into profound strength and lifelong growth.
In 2021, SDIA will hold this training at Camp War Eagle while a dedicated facility is developed. How It Works This transformative 18-month program begins with seven days of intensive and immersive PTG training that taps into each students' strengths, skills and abilities. Throughout the program, they learn proven techniques to regulate thoughts, feelings, and actions, connect head and heart, and...
Our Mission Continues with Outdoor Adventures
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Office and Northwest Arkansas Chapter have dug deep to find ways to adapt, improvise and overcome many of the challenges presented by the guidance/mandates in place. While we have postponed our large-scale adventures to 2021, #OurMissionContinues! Our reformatted Outdoor Adventures now include groups of 10 or fewer whenever possible, and we press on to keep our Sheep Dogs off that couch. Since June, we have taken more than 60 Sheep Dogs in need on 2-day adventures to experience the thrill of off-roading with razors at Rush Springs Ranch, skydiving at Skydive Fayetteville, rockcrawling with Rockcrawlers 4x4 Club NWA at Byrd's Outdoor Center, water activities on Beaver Lake, and with the recent cooler weather, indoor axe throwing, climbing and more. While it sounds like we're “just having fun,” the camaraderie, peer support and sense of belonging participants feel during these adventures is critical to the overall well-being of each Sheep Dog attending.
Hurricane Laura Disaster Response Missions 1.0 & 2.0
SDIA's Hurricane Laura 1.0 Disaster Response Team (DRT) worked hard last week assisting people in the DeRidder, Louisiana, area. The Team of 53 volunteers from Arkansas (Central and NWA), Florida, Kansas, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas:
assisted 1,608 people (including 168 Veteran and First Responder families); cleared 66 properties of 265 downed trees; mucked-out and performed mold remediation in 6 homes; covered 111 structures with tarps; and distributed 8,046 lbs of food, water and supplies.
Despite the work done, there is much more to do. SDIA will be deploying a second DRT to Louisiana Sept. 14-18, 2020. The DRT will conduct chainsaw operations, tree & debris removal, tarping structures, mucking-out homes, distributing food/water, and other recovery tasks. If you are available to deploy and are not high-risk for COVID-19, please CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. After registering, you will be added to the list of DR volunteers and will receive deployment...
SDIA Deploying Disaster Response Team for Hurricane Laura Recovery
Overnight Hurricane Laura slammed into the Texas/Louisiana coasts with Cat 4 strength. The need for assistance in recovery is great, and Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is responding. SDIA will deploy a Disaster Response (DR) Team from Sunday, August 30, to Friday, September 4, to the Lake Charles, Louisiana, area to perform chainsaw operations, trees & debris removal, tarping roofs, and other assistance as needed.
The Northwest Arkansas DR Team, along with volunteers from other SDIA Teams and Chapters, will depart from the Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary’s at 10:00am on Sunday, August 30.
Those who are not high-risk for COVID-19 and are willing/able to deploy next week, may register to volunteer at this form.
While this is a challenging time for most Americans, SDIA would greatly appreciate the public joining their DR Team by making any financial donation possible. No donation is too small - and every bit will help SDIA assist those affected by Hurricane Laura and...
SDIA’s Silent Auction Bidding Now Open!
Get a head start on your Christmas shopping! We've collected hundreds of high-quality Silent Auction items from local businesses and national companies and they're ready to take your bid! We've got something for everyone on your list with a variety of children's toys, home decor, household, outdoor, entertainment, fitness, and pet items and so much more.
Browse the Silent Auction items item by item, or by item category - you can even add items to a watch list while you decide on a bid. Just click or scan the QR code at left, or visit www.SDIA10.givesmart.com. (Winners are responsible for picking up items or paying shipping costs.) BIDDING WILL CLOSE AT 8PM ON AUGUST 25.
DID YOU KNOW The CARES Act passed by Congress in response to the COVID-19 crisis - best known for its Payroll Protection Program SBA loans - also has provisions that increase the tax-deductibility of donations to charities. During 2020,...
Come Celebrate with Us on October 9!
Join us for SDIA's Outdoor Celebration October 9, 2021 Village on the Creeks - Rogers, AR Doors Open 4:30pm Program Begins 6:30pm VIP Reception 9:00-10:00pm
Join us for a night of celebrating 11 years of Sheep Dog Impact Assistance and our nation's heroes! Over the past 11 years, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) has grown into a national 501c3 nonprofit. With your help, SDIA has been able to engage, assist and empower thousands of Sheep Dogs in need by helping them #GetOffTheCouch. This is accomplished through our three programs:
Outdoor Adventures to engage them with camaraderie and healing; Warrior PATHH training to assist them in learning to transform their struggle into strength; and Continued Service where Sheep Dogs are empowered to discover the power of "Helping is Healing" as they serve others through Disaster Response Missionst and community service.
The Celebration will be held in the courtyard area between the shops, and will also have Sheep Dog vehicles and family-friendly activities in the parking lot. We'll have...